The world of Strangereal, with its first-person aerial combat, wouldn’t be complete without developer stories.
In this developer diary video from Project Aces, we take a look at how Ace Combat 8: Wings of Freedom is the culmination of 30 years of experience and expertise. One of the first things Ace Combat 8 explores is your role as a pilot in the world of Strangereal. As the new leader of a squadron aboard the aircraft carrier Endurance, you must earn your team’s trust, as explained by Kazutoki Kono, the series brand director. Your character is at the heart of a deeply emotional story where you alternate between daily life on the aircraft carrier and high-stakes missions among the clouds. The Federation of Central Usea is struggling to survive with limited resources in a bitter war.
To immerse each player, Project Aces innovated the Ace Combat series by adding a first-person perspective during story scenes. This new perspective, along with the huge leap forward in photorealistic rendering of your aircraft, the environment, and most importantly, the vast, beautiful sky, allows for new levels of immersion. Developers Kosuke Itomi, Masato Kanno, and Keiichi Yamaguchi describe how the art team applied decades of experience and craftsmanship to bring each fan-favorite aircraft to life.
The developers are excited to share more about the exclusive Cloudly engine and the Lumen lightning system, which render glorious, light-sensitive clouds and weather. They will also explain how this system changes the game for anyone soaring into the wild blue yonder. Of course, beauty isn’t everything. Producer Manabu Shimomoto will explain how the team has been working to make Ace Combat 8’s dogfights an unforgettable, pulse-pounding experience. You’ll hear their philosophy on making this a flight shooting game that anyone can enjoy, from the first-time pilot to the battle-hardened ace. Development Director Akira Yasui will also discuss how the new tutorial system helps accomplish this goal.
This developer diary captures the passion of a team with 30 years of development experience. They have poured every ounce of their passion and commitment into creating environments that will immerse you, a story that will inspire you, and gameplay that will thrill you. Please join us as we prepare to take off for an unforgettable flight.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Thunder is set to release sometime this year for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC.
Source: Gematsu
